# Has there ever been a video game that... **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 4, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317 "2014-12-04T16:08:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/1 "2014-12-04T16:08:34Z")
…(with your permission of course) takes control of your printer or web camera or browser history and such to create a more immersive experience? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/2 "2014-12-04T16:30:39Z")
Not to much knowledge, though Eternal Darkness pretended to mess with your Gamecube and TV, though it was simply faking it. Metal Gear Solid messed with your PS1, sort of. It read your memory cards and commented on saved games and I think it did something like made you switch controller ports as well. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/3 "2014-12-04T16:34:54Z")
Lose/Lose > **[Video Game News & Reviews | Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/gaming/)** > > Find in-depth news and hands-on reviews of the latest video games, video consoles and accessories. Cameras are often used in augmented reality games. “Vib Ribbon” let you insert a CD and would generate levels based on the music. > **[Vib-Ribbon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vib-Ribbon)** > > Vib-Ribbon\[a\] is a 1999 rhythm video game developed by NanaOn-Sha and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released for the PlayStation in Japan on December 9, 1999, and in Europe on September 1, 2000. Although the original PlayStation version was never released in North America, the game was re-released on PlayStation Network in North America in 2014. > The game was initially commissioned as an advertisement for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class car. After design issues surfaced with the car ... ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/4 "2014-12-04T17:19:09Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Metal Gear Solid messed with your PS1, sort of. It read your memory cards and commented on saved games and I think it did something like made you switch controller ports as well. The character [Psycho Mantis](http://metalgear.wikia.com/wiki/Psycho_Mantis) did that: > [@](#): > > The boss battle with Psycho Mantis in Metal Gear Solid is widely remembered for him “displaying” his mental powers through breaking the fourth wall. This includes making the controller move by activating the rumble feature, and making players think the TV channel has changed by turning the screen to black, with the green caption “HIDEO” displayed in the top-right corner. He also “reads” the player’s memory card, commenting on the number of saves that have been made in the game so far, and the presence of other saved games, first noting their genre, then mentioning specific examples (e.g. “You like Castlevania, don’t you?”). In the original game, Mantis mentions Azure Dreams, Suikoden, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Vandal Hearts (plus Policenauts and Snatcher in the Japanese version), while in the 2004 remake, he references Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/5 "2014-12-04T21:14:37Z")
There was a game had you running around your directory tree shooting and fighting a virus attack, and it would throw up audio and picture files it found as you ran around. I can’t remember what it was called though - I don’t remember the name, I just remember the controversy when the game found… hidden pictures. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/6 "2014-12-06T02:21:36Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Vib Ribbon" let you insert a CD and would generate levels based on the music. > > [Vib-Ribbon - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vib-Ribbon) I remember that! Audiosurf is a more modern take on that (gameplay is much different though). The Monster Rancher/Farm series created one of hundreds of monsters based on the CD/DVD you put in. It was based on some algorithm, except certain albums/games/etc. gave you specially programmed ones. And of course some Android/iOS games scour your Facebook or similar if you give them permission. Psycho Mantis could “read your mind” and anticipate moves, but you could hide from him by switching to the second controller port, then he would complain about your mind being hidden. IIRC it wasn’t necessary, but made the battle a lot easier. MGS2 did something similar were the computer system was tweaking out and it gave a false “Fission Mailed” (sic) screen. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/7 "2014-12-06T03:27:44Z")
There is, of course, the [DOOM task manager](http://psdoom.sourceforge.net/). Edit: For real, a nice example is Black and White. Whenever a villager died, a somewhat creepy woman would whisper deeeeath, however, if your name (entered on creating a new game) was on a certain list, it would whisper your name sometimes instead. However, it did more. **Without** your permission it would scour instant messanger contact lists on your computer, and actually name villagers after your friends. You probably wouldn’t notice most of the time, but if you did… ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/8 "2014-12-06T06:14:45Z")
Not sure if this applies, but the PC game [Majestic](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_%28video_game%29) was played by phone, email, AOL Instant Messenger, BlackBerry messages, fax, and by visiting special websites. Supposedly, it was inspired by the Michael Douglas movie _The Game_. It was an innovative concept that never took off. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/9 "2014-12-06T16:36:07Z")
The PlayStation 3 has a “game” called EyePet, where it uses the camera and Move controller to generate a little pet on the screen, which is otherwise a live picture of your floor. You interact with the thing using the Move controller. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-video-game-that/706317/10 "2014-12-10T17:25:32Z")
That is a very cool idea for an ARG.